( dpa )- The British government said Tuesday that the end of Fidel Castro's rule in Cuba offered the opportunity of a peaceful transition towards a pluralist democracy on the island.
"Our position on Cuba is a long-standing one, which is that we have always sought to encourage a peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba, as well as a greater respect for human rights and the unconditional release of all political prisoners," a spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown said.
"Anything which encourages progress down that path is something we would welcome," he added.
Labour member of parliament Ian Gibson, chairman of the parliamentary all party group on Cuba, said he believed the "spirit of revolution" would live on in Cuba.
"I think the spirit of the revolution will live on in the younger generation of Cubans, but I would certainly think there will be differences in the relationships with other countries," he said.
" Cuba understands that it is a global economy now. I think there will be less fear of America and more interaction with Europe," said Gibson.